Oceania cycling championships top seed Lucy Kennedy eyeing the … – The Canberra Times

Lucy Kennedy isthe top seed for the Oceania cycling championships, which start in Canberra on Thursday, but she only turned to bike riding as a last resort because of her will to compete.

Kennedy was a runner at Iowa State University in the United States before she was sidelined by injury and decided she would dabble in swimming.

But she didn't rate herself in the pool so Kennedy decided it was time to test out a bike, and now she is considered a red hot chance at clinching the Oceania time trial championship as the top seed.

Kennedy is one of 228 riders converging on the capital for the Oceaniaroad cycling championships, with time trial and road race titles up for grabs across six categories.

"I dabbled in swimming but I wasn't very good at that so I got on a bike," Kennedy said.

"Initially it was just to keep fit so I could run again but that didn't really ever happen. I never really ran again.

"One thing led to another and just sort of fell in love with cycling."

It's a far cry from the "incredible"American college system, and a taste of international competition has Kennedy itching for more - only this time she'll be on a bike.

"The level of support you get [in America] is like nothing you see in Australia," Kennedy said.

"Definitely [keen to ride overseas], we'll see what happens. No firm plans yet but we'll see what opportunities come up."

The 28-year-old engineer has ridden the National Capital Tour twice since taking up cycling in 2014, and won the yellow jersey in 2016.

A return to Canberra continues a "wild" schedule for Kennedy, who rides in the High5 Dream Team alongside Canberra product Rebecca Wiasak.

"After this I think I've got about six weeks at home before another block of national road series racing," Kennedy said.

While "it's been a busy start to the year", Kennedy manages to head home to Brisbane between races - she's "got to go back to work".

But a hectic schedule bodes well for Kennedy leading into one of the bigger events on her calendar, because plenty of riding means she is in "pretty good shape".

She will come up against plenty of familiar faces - quite often Kennedy will travel around the country racing the same people - but a new track offers a new challenge.

"I'll be looking to win, that's the goal," Kennedy said.

"LisenHockings is back, she's been out for a while with injury so it will be interesting to see what kind of form she brings back from that.

"There's some strong riders but definitely the goal is to definitely get up on the podium."

Canberra duo Rebecca Wiasak and Nathan Hart have won spots on the Australian team for the track cycling world championships in Hong Kong next month.

Wiasak won gold at the Australian championships last weekend, claiming her maiden national title after winning the women's individual pursuit.

Hart led the ACT team to bronze in the team sprint.

The world championships will be in Hong Kong from April 12-16, with Wiasak joining fellow world championsAlex Porter, 20, (SA), Callum Scotson, 20, (SA)andSam Welsford, 21, (WA), punctuate the selections.

The team features four debutants, who recently won national titles,in Jordan Kerby, 24, (QLD)andNick Yallouris, 23, (NSW),withO'BrienandRohan Wight, 20, (SA).

Wiasak is part of a six-strong women's endurance squad, which won three gold medals in the team pursuit, Madison and points race at the track World Cup.

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Oceania cycling championships top seed Lucy Kennedy eyeing the ... - The Canberra Times